Shaft suspension



Sept. 6, 1927..

lm x

Patented Sept. 6, 1927.

yentre STAT-ss DELAWARE.

SHAFT susin'nsifom z Application :led'Ja-nuary 371; 1925. A' Se'rialv No: 5.3963; f

This iinvention relates in general to improvements in fastenings, and relates more specifically `to an improved assemblage of elementsincluding an automatic locking de.

vice for uniting severalofthe elements to producev a suspension for upright shafts orV said machines are formed of relatively hard metal and frequently have large diameter, thus making. it undesirable to cut threads or grooves thereiny for purposes of attachment of suspension elements; enormous pressure applied to shaft suspensions of machines such as crush-ers, the suspension elements must be ,rigidly retained in placeand should be formed to tighten' themselves rather 1 than to loosen upon application'ofpressure.

The present invention contemplates provi#4 sion of an improved suspension mechanism' for shafts: of machines of the above men-` xtioned classes or types, which may be readily constructed, assembled anddismantled, and

in 'which the rigidly united elemnts of the structure are automaticallylocked in place.V

The 'improvement eliminates necessity of threading or otherwise'grooving themain shaft7 and also provides a structure wherein increasing pressure properly appliedserves -to augment' the locking effect. l improvement is especially applicable to up- Y right shafts of relatively large diameterythe isimplicity, compact-ness,V strength `and gen-f .eral reliability. of devices vembpdying Vthe same, make yits adaptability to otherv classes tion of -theshaft about a. point located adj a-..A cent tothe'suspension device. .The shafts of. F. A

Due to the of machines, obvious. lThese andothr obr4 jects and advantages of the* inventioi'i vvill.. be apparent from the `following description;

` n A Aeencption of sei'zerall embodiments of the invention and of the.;.operat;ion ofV de- `vicesJ constructeddin l,accordance therewith, may be had leyreferring to;` the drawing ac-v company-ing and forming a part ofthis specification in which like reference vcharacters designate the same or" similar parts in -luimpibved shaft suspension?. y v i Fig@ is a transverseY .horizontal section Fig-L lfis a centralvertica-lsection through "th-mufl the Shaft suspensioii'disclosed in y Figi.. a central-vertical section through another ferm of improved shaft suspension.

L Fig. 4 'is a` transverse fliorizeontal section throughv the shaft suspension illustrated in Y Referringvl Specifically "to :theimpoved shaft suspension illustrated' indFigs.` lv and 72 the-main shaft 2v is providedat its upper l.ende with an integral downwardly converging. tapered portion having a'frusto-conical outer'l sur-face Q14 Y formed directly thereon. v

or split meinber5 having an internal frustofr conical' .surface coac'table with the tapered surface of the shaft 2 vand .also having its, exterior provided with 'strevv threads 8.

the grippingmemberis .specifically 'illus-v tratefd as beingformed ef a pair of identical v separablseetion's; but maybe form-'edy vof one piece.l *'Ihershaft' end;` 4 and the member 5 are, provided with alined grovesfivvithin. Whichis locatedav key 7 for preventing relativedisplacementfof the gripping member 5 about the y'shaft :Vend V.4L -A one}; ieceV Vring membersurrounds vthe gripping member and isx'provided with .screw threads -coact ing with thescrevv threads" SiV of the .mem-

`hei-5.` The ring member 6 is adapted. to rest uponthe-upper extremity of' a collar 9'Whi`ch embraces the shaft? 2: and rests upon an `an-k "T113 mmbe 5v whichy maybe designated as?? nfular-thrustplatee11.A YThe exterior' 1fthe' lcollar fisformed slightly `taperediandlis aidapld ltifv Cact-,Witha sleevelO Which is rig e inf mninted'with-n a supporting huh.. ha' .l

es" una secarse., to therapists arms is and is provided at its top with a cap 13 which normally incloses the suspension mech' Referring specifically to the improved shaftv suspension illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the main shaft 2 is provided at its upper end 4 with an. integral downwardly converging tapered portion having a .frustoconical outer` surface 17 formed directly thereon.. Embracing this tapered end 4 lis asplit member having an internal frustoconical surface coacting 'with the shaft surface '17 and having its exterior provided with a cylindrical surface 18. The member 15 may be formed in halves and has a lower outwardly extending projection 21 which forms an annular flange .surrounding thev shaft 2. Acne-piece ring member 16'surrounds the gripping member 15 and has a bore which coacts lwith the outerr` cylindrical surface 18 of the member v15. The ring member 16 rests upon the Harige or projection 21 of the member 15, which projection in turn rests uponi the upper extremity of a collar 19. The collar'19 embraces the shaft 2 and rests.- upon an annular thrust *plate 1'1.` The exterior `of the collar 19 is formed slightly tapered `and is adapted to vcoact With-a sleeve 2O rigidly mounted within thesupporting hub 3. The Ahub 3 is se` lcured to the spiderarm's12 and is provided at itstop with acap 13 whichv normally'incloses the suspension mechanism. I

Duringn'ormal operation of either 'of the shaft suspensions illustrated in the drawing, the shaft 2 Yis being gyratedzin'anysuitable manner and lis free to rotate within the cor ,responding sleeve 310, 20'. With the shaft in the position shownv inthe drawing, vthe, collar 9, 19 has line engagements 'with the' adjacent sleeve 10, 20 and with thetlirust plate 11'. VAs the shaft 2 gyrates the collar 9, 19 rolls along thesleeve 10, 20 and' the e .thrust Aplate 11. r `The weight ofthe shaft"- y2 and the', elements associated therewith produces a vdownwardlpressure upon' the i* gripping member 5, 15 and vcauses thetal peredy shaft end t to coact'with the taperedy` bore of the split gripping member. The .ring member v6,' 16 embracing the gripping member V5, 15 preventsl thesections of the vgrlpping member from spreading beyond a'v limited extent and causes the frusto-coni'cal` I outer `surface of the shaft section 4' to become wedged within the corresponding grippingmember 5,15.. This wedging actionfiisV -augmented` by theV upward-. reaction from' c thecollar 9, 19 and the suspension'elements .Y-arethus lockedin'position. 1 Y lr -5Y If; it is desired `to release the yfm'embers, it-issimply necessary to remove@ the'shaft2 from its"support, the shaft be ing Yprovided withV an upper central threaded holexadapted for -insertion of an eye-bolt.

With the device illustrated in Figs. lv and j in `Figs. 3

suspension ;moving the ring member 16.

It will thus be noted that the improved suspensionV may be readily applied and removed and that the elements thereof are effectively locked in position duringnormal use. The suspension device requires no threading of the main shaftand in the form illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4'threading is completely eliminated.

It should sired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction and operation herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scopev of the claims may occur to persons skilled `in the art.

It is claimed and desired tolsecure by Letters Patent: f i

,1. In combination, a shaft having a frusto-conical external surface, a split membe` understood that it is not deber having a frusto-conical internal sur-i face engaging said .external shaft surface and movable relatively ythereto "longitudinally of said shaft, a lring member-embracing said split member, and means for' autol .maticallyr urging said members lalongv said shaft to.loclr said split member to said shaft l at said surfaces.

2. In combination, an uprightY shaft havin'ga frusto--conical `external surface, a split lmember having 'a y frusto-conical internal surface engaging said Yexternal shaft surface andA movable relatively thereto' longitudinally of said shaft, a ring member embracing said splitmember, and a thrust Yelement `supporting saidI members and said shaft and engaging said ring member to automatically lock said split member to saidV shafty along said surfaces.'

3InA combination, a shaftV having a -frusto-conical externalk surface, a split member having a frusto-conical vinternal surface engaging said lexternal shaftsurface and lmovable relatively thereto longitudinally of said'shaft, said split member'being exter nally. threaded, a ,ring member having internal threads coacting with the external 1 threads of said split member, and means co acting Awith vsaid ring member, for urging lsaid members along said: .shaft .to lock said splitmember to said shaft at said surfaces.

LlafIn combina tion, an upright shaft having a frusto-conical external surface, a split member having a frusto-conical` internal sur- 1,641,715 o Y f mp3 face engaging said external shaft surface shaft and engaging said rin member Whereand movable relatively thereto longitudiby the Weight of said sha t serves to autonally of said shaft, said split memberbeing matically lock said split member to saidrlO externally threaded, av ring member having shaft along said surfaces. y l internal threads engaging the external In testimony whereof, the signature p 0f threads of said split member, and a thrust A the inventor is affixed hereto. element supporting saidmembers and said HUGO W. W'EIMER. 

